Business Secretary Sajid Javid joins line-up for exclusive FSB global trade event
The Federation of Small Businesses is pleased to announce that the Secretary of State for Business, Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP will be speaking at our headline event during the International Festival of Business in Liverpool.
FSB’s day of discussion and debate, ‘From Northern Powerhouse to Global Markets – Small Firms and the Global Trade Agenda’ will be held on June 20 2016 at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool. It will be hosted by BBC North West’s Political Editor Arif Ansari and brings together an impressive list of international speakers.
At the event, FSB will reveal initial findings from a new report [1] examining the challenges faced by small firms when exporting. Overcoming these challenges will lead to small businesses securing more customers, higher turnover and profitability. Getting more small firms exporting is also key to closing the UK’s trade gap, which in turn will boost the long-term health of the economy.
Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: “The future of our exports, the future success of the Northern Powerhouse and the future of our economy all lie in the hands of today’s small businesses. That’s why the Government is totally committed to helping more of Britain’s small businesses to start operating on the global stage.
“Our Exporting Is GREAT campaign is making it easier than ever for businesses of all shapes and sizes to identify and exploit export opportunities all around the world. This FSB event will bring government and business together to break down barriers and introduce more employers to the benefits of doing business internationally.”
FSB Chairman Mike Cherry said: “The Business Secretary attending our event shows the importance that Government attaches to FSB’s exports agenda, to get smaller firms export-ready. We hope today’s discussions will help highlight the barriers which hinder many small businesses’ ambitions to export and provide solutions to make that journey easier.”
FSB’s event will provide the opportunity to discuss the many challenges and opportunities ahead for those looking to export, with particular emphasis on the role of the Northern Powerhouse. It will be comprised of three high-level sessions: opportunities for small firms in a changing landscape of trade agreements, barriers small firms experience when they start to export, and how small firms can benefit from international supply chains.
In addition to hearing from the Business Secretary, the event line-up includes a group of international trade experts and FSB members:
• Dirk Vantyghem, Director of Operations, Eurochambres
• Fred Perry, Deputy Director, Volume Strategy, UK Trade and Investment
• Ho Cheol Kim, Commercial Attaché, Embassy of the Republic of Korea
• David Bailey, Professor of Industrial Strategy, Aston Business School
• Dita Charanzová, MEP, ALDE spokesperson on the EU Trade Strategy
• Phillip Blond, Director, ResPublica
• Frank McDonald, Professor of International Business, University of Liverpool School of Management
• David Caro, FSB Member and Managing Director, Qualplast (1991) Ltd
• Simon Poyser, FSB Member and Director, VelocityRDT
• Bill Esterson MP, Shadow Small Business Minister
Ends

Notes to Editors
1) FSB carried out an exports survey among its membership in March this year. The full research will be published in July 2016.

About FSB
As experts in business, FSB offers members a wide range of vital business services, including advice, financial expertise, support and a powerful voice in Government. Its aim is to help smaller businesses achieve their ambitions. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk. You can follow us on twitter @fsb_policy.

About

The Federation of Small Businesses is the UK's largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms. Formed in 1974, it now has around 200,000 members across 33 regions and 188 branches.